And having recognized it, the rookie cornerback knew Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was coming at him, knew how to play tight end Austin Hooper and knew he needed to make a play on the ball, just as he did.

And, suddenly, there they were, jumping on Jones, laughing with Tankersley and running off the field with such joy veteran Cameron Wake shouted, “It’s not what anyone else says! What we says goes!”

What they said at halftime is, simply, “Enough.” The offense, especially. Enough with the dumb plays. Enough with misplays. Enough with the dropped passes, considering Jarvis Landry had two drops in the first three drives — as many drops as he had all last season.

“Can’t do that,” Landry said.

An incredible second-half rally from down 17-0 built on a second half of redemption for Jay Cutler, of surprising effectiveness by a short-handed offensive line, of another swarming performance by the defense.

(Omar Kelly, Steve Svekis)

Suddenly, this was an offense you hadn’t seen all season. Suddenly, they went 75 yards down the field to open the second half and Kenny Stills caught an 11-yard pass from Jay Cutler.

Suddenly, Adam Gase’s offense put in defining wrinkles, like Landry going in motion, then reversing field and having an entire side of the field to himself for a 7-yard touchdown.

Miami’s defense, perhaps the best facet of the team this season, did its job better than it had all year on Sunday when the Dolphins shut out the Atlanta Falcons in the second half en route to a stunning 20-17 come-from-behind road victory.

Miami’s defense entered the game fourth in points allowed...

(Chris Perkins)

You can’t have a popgun passing attack averaging a measly 4.5 yards per attempt. You can’t count on your defense to shut down Atlanta over the final 36 minutes every time, either.

So it wasn’t a textbook win. So what?

For the first time this season, the Dolphins looked like the team you expected them to be, the one they hadn’t been this first month, the one you weren’t sure they’d be all season.

Where has this team been? Was this a one-half appearance or a sign of things to come? We’ll know soon enough. The New York Jets come to town next week. They beat Miami last month, 20-6, starting such a mystifying tailspin everyone had about given up on the Dolphins this year.

“I guess this was an upset to some,” guard Anthony Steen said. “My dad told me no one picked us to win this game.”

At halftime, the question was if they’d win any more games. Then came a second half full of surprise, right down to Tankersley’s tip and Jones’ interception at the end. A day got a happy end. A season got something more. It got life.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippet talks about overcoming his injury from last season.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippet talks about overcoming his injury from last season.

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Participants raise money for cancer research during the Dolphins Cancer Challenge at Hard Rock stadium. All of the participant-raised funds goes to innovative cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Participants raise money for cancer research during the Dolphins Cancer Challenge at Hard Rock stadium. All of the participant-raised funds goes to innovative cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said at the Senior Bowl that he wants to address every position in free agency to free the team up to take the best players available in the 2018 draft.

Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said at the Senior Bowl that he wants to address every position in free agency to free the team up to take the best players available in the 2018 draft.

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Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier praised the growth Charles Harris and liked what his fellow rookies showed in 2017.

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier praised the growth Charles Harris and liked what his fellow rookies showed in 2017.